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Threshold

from These Hands by Martha Groves Perry

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about

This is a joyful song about my last experience with my 100-year-old grandmother, who passed away a few weeks afterwards in Kentucky in 2017 . She had slipped into “senility” according to the nursing staff, meaning not present or aware of her surroundings. At one point, however, in response to my kiss on her foreheard, she “woke up” and looked, spoke, and smiled directly into my soul. Everything got warm, bright, and clear, and it was just us for a moment, someplace else – bathed in love and grace. It was overwhelming and as beautiful as anything I’ve ever experienced.

I journaled about it as thoroughly as I could afterwards, so I would not forget. I then wrote the song using melodies that came to me in dreams the night after I saw her, knowing they were for this song.

The response to this song when I play it live is often intense because the song is full of joy and longing. I have had audience members fall into my arms weeping after the show because lots of people have experienced this kind of loss that is both sad and beautiful, human and other-worldly. It’s a great reminder (and encouragement) that sometimes I can use my craft to speak into the tenderest places, and I take that sacred opportunity with care and joy. I love what Kenny, my producer, did with the song, particularly going into the last verse describing this supernatural experience. I hope you enjoy it.

lyrics

Her face turns to a threshold only she can see
Seeking to escape from her heredity
Unfamiliar ‘cause she’s halfway there
Of my presence fully unaware
Longing for the coming mystery

And then I touch her, lay hands upon her, kiss her forehead
While she calls out loud for her mother and her sister
All her loved ones she can see right now but not reach

My name is spoken in her ear, she turns to see
Her sightless eyes declare that she remembers me
She beckons me again to make her laugh
Will it help her to discern her path?
Her crooked hand feels warm and velvety

And then I touch her, lay hands upon her, kiss her forehead
While she calls out loud for her mother and her sister
All her loved ones she can see right now but not reach

Aye Eee Aye Eee Hearing
Aye Eee Aye Eee Seeing
Aye Eee Aye Eee Calling
Aye Eee Aye Eee Longing

A kiss transported us into a light-filled space
She smiled into my soul in a familiar way
Our smiles reflected what our hearts could see
Her delight in just beholding me
Just a moment to be bathed in grace

And then I touch her, lay hands upon her, kiss her forehead
While she calls out loud for her mother and her sister
All her loved ones she can see right now but not reach

Aye Eee Aye Eee Hearing
Aye Eee Aye Eee Seeing
Aye Eee Aye Eee Calling
Aye Eee Aye Eee Longing

Words & Music © 2017 Martha Groves Perry

credits

from These Hands, released March 1, 2020
In addition to songwriting, lead vocals, and writing the harmony vocals, I played acoustic guitar and performed backing vocals on this song. Kenny Schick, my producer, also sang backing vocals and played or programmed all of the other instruments. Kenny recorded his parts at Basement3Productions in Nashville, TN, and I recorded my acoustic guitar and vocal parts in April 2019 with Steven Glaze at ToneFreq Studio in San Jose, California.

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Martha Groves Perry San Francisco, California

Martha Groves Perry is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist based in San Francisco, California. Her bold, alternative Americana original music has a straightforward, compelling and sometimes edgy clarity with strong blues, rock, and experimental influences. Her penetrating, poetic lyrics reflect the fearless truth-telling and unbothered amusement of a seasoned, female point of view. ... more

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